Ski construction



w F. sERR 2,188,582 sx1 coNsTRucTIoN Filed oc't. 2, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 30; 1940.

W. F. SERR SKI CONSTRUCTION i Jan. 30, 1940.

ffii) Patented Jan. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES .PATENT oFFlcE forty-nine per cent to Eric Pusinelli, New York,

Application October 2, 1936, Serial No. 103,639

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved ski construction.

In the utilization of skis it is desirable that the skis grip satisfactorily upon hard or soft vsnow and upon uphill or downhill terrain.

Each of these conditions theoretically requires a different construction or shape of ski, but obviously it is not possible to substitute or utilize different types of skis when these conditions are met in the course of a trip or during the course of a skiing season.

vIt is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide a ski construction which may be readily adjusted or modified to accommodate different snow conditions or different terrain conditions permitting the inclusion in one ski of an all-around adaptability without necessitating substantially additional equipment and which adjustments may be readily made by the average skier without difficulty.

In utilizing skis, it is desirable that the central part of the ski be arched particularlywhen utilized for climbing uphill and to retain the shape it is necessary to lock the skis n together after usage with a block tied in between to cause the wood to retain the arch formation after each usage of the skis.

It is, therefore, among the further objects of the present invention to provide a means 'for assuring an adjustable arch formation of the skis without the necessity of using special frames or blocks in connection with the skis after each usage.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the edge of the ski afford a certain and sure grip to the snow which cannot be attained Withan all Wooden construction and it has been found that solid -metal constructions are not altogether satisfactory for the edges of skis because of the weight and also of the fact that they weaken the wooden structure.

It is, therefore, among the further objects of the present invention to provide an improved edge construction for skis which not only will strengthen the ski but in addition will afford a better gripping thereby and more satisfactory usage thereof.

Other objects will be obvious or will be apparent during the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory to utilize relatively thin drawn or bent light Weight metal stock over the edging of the skis, said metal stock when insertion the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

ed in the ski being substantially flush with the side and bottom faces of the body thereof.

To attach these side pieces to the ski, it has been found most advantageous to provide the metal members with Wedges or fins which may be readily fitted into the wood and which will firmly hold to the ski construction Without substantially weakening the same.

Where these side pieces or strips are made of sheet angle stock, slots may be cut in the body thereof at predetermined intervals to enhance elasticity of the ski. At the narrow portions of the ski, the side portions may be omitted with the result that the edges will run only along the bottom of the edges of the ski.

It is generally preferred that all attachments by way of screws or otherwise be at the end of theskis and off the running or snow contacting faces thereof.

In order to enable the skis to grip all hard or soft snow, it is' usually desirable to provide a central groove for soft snow. This groove is so shaped as to receive an intermediate edging device to enable better gripping of hard snow on which a central groove would not be of substan- 'tal Value.

In several instances, it has been found satisfactory to provide a groove with a wedge base which is designed to receive series of inserts, carrying edges which would project below the jbottom surface of the ski, said edges being of such nature as to provide a more satisfactory grip on hard snow.

In connection with this latter embodiment, it has been found most satisfactory to provide a ture or arch to the bottom of the ski.

The above and other objects will appear more Aclearly from the following detailed description `groove or recess extending longitudinally bewhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments* of the inventive idea.

.In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a ski construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side sectional View upon enlarged scale of the front and rear portions of the ski construction of Figure 1.

Figure .3 is an end View of the ski of Figure 2 Figure 4 is a side sectional View similar to the right hand side of Figure 2 with the tightening buckle construction in directly different position.

Figure 5 is a top View upon the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 6--6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a side sectional View similar to Figures 2 and 4 of an alternative arching construction.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view on the,

line 8 8 of Figure '1.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of an alternative ski construction showing diierent side edge and bottom edge constructions.

Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are alternative fragmentary edge sectional views showing the metallic reinforcing and edging members.

Figures 15 and 16 show an alternative central stiiening arrangement, Figurey 15` showing the stiffening edge element in position and Figure 16 showing it out of position.

Figure 17 is a top fragmentary perspective view showing one type of side edging element removed from the ski.

Figure 18 is a perspective View showing an alternative central metal edge construction removed from the ski.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary side View showing the method of connection between two central edging elements.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, the ski structure I has an upturned front portion II, an arched portion I2 and front and rear contact portions I3 and I4. The tail l5 may be slightly upturned as indicated in Figure 1.

'Ihe central bottom portion of the ski is provided with a groove I6 (see Figure 6) having a rectangular portion I1 and a dove-tailed portionr I8. Received in the groove`|6 is the insert member I9 provided with a channel 20 which receives the wire strip 2|. The wire strip 2| at the rear end of the ski is connectedV by the button 22 to the end plate 23. 'I'he plate 213 is attached by the screws 24 to the back of the skier 2,5.

The iront of the strip 2| extends into the recess 26 in the ski structure, which recess is provided with a plate 21. The plate 2 1 is held inposition by the screws 28.

The front end of the metal strip 2| is connected by the ring 29a to the eye 29 of the screw piece 39, which screw piece connectstothe turn buckle 3|.

The other end of the turn buckle 3| carries the screw 32 having the eye member 33.

The eye member 33 fits onto the pivot 34 which is connected to the side members 35 of the U- shaped lever 36. The lever 36 is pivoted at 31 on the ears 38, said ears 38 being struck up from the plate 21.

In the construction as shown in Figures 1 to 6, it is apparent that the tightness of the strip 2l which is concealed between the base of the groove I6 and the edging strip I9 may be regulated by the turn buckle 3| when in the position shown in Figure 2.

After suitable adjustment has been made, the lever 36 may be turned over as indicated in Figure 4 tightening the strip 2|Y and causing the ski to take up the desired arch, as indicated in Figure 1.

The projecting edges39 of the insert I9 enable a better grip on hard snow and on soft snow the insert I9 may be removed together with the wire 2| leaving the groove I6 or another insert to cover the wedge groove I8 alone may be used.

Referring to Figures '7 and 8, the groove 40 which is positioned in the upper face 4| of the ski construction 42, may receive a liner 48. Within the liner 48 is provided the strip 43 having an ear 44 connected to the screw element 45 of the turn buckle 46. Expansion of the strip 43 causes arching of the. ski.

The other side of the turn buckle is connected by the screw member 49 and the eye 50 to the ear on the loop 52.

The loop 52 is pivotally connected at 53 to the ears 54 upturned from the plate 55.

The operation in connection with the embodiment of Figures '1 and 8 is similar to that described in Figures 1, 2,1 and 5, except that the expansion arches 4the ski instead of tightening as in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

In Figure 9, is shown a jumping ski, the side edges of which are provided with the extruded or bent metallic corner members 51 or 58 which may be used alternatively.

Referring to the edge 51, there is a relatively short side ange 59 where the ski is very thin. The edge 5 1 has an inturned flange 6I]v tting into the wooden body 6| of the ski. The lower flange 62 is much wider and has an upturned portion 63.

` It will be noted that the flanges 59 and 62 are iiush with the side and bottomof the ski construction 6| and that the flanges 60 and 6'3vl1old the corner piece 59'in position without substantially weakening the Wooden structure 6|'.

In the corner piece 58, the side ilange 64 is somewhat higher and both the side flange 64 and bottom ange 65 are provided with inclined or oblique iianges 66 and 61 inserted into the wooden body.

The body of the ski 5| may receive a plurality of grooves 68 which in turn receive the wedge shaped metal portions 69 of the ystrips 10.

The'elements 51 and 58, as shown in Figure 9, may be slid into position from the end of the ski, and they may be readily held in position by means of ay suitable cement.

Instead of three elements, SIB-19, as shown, one of these elements may be employed and if desired, the sides of the wedge may be continued leaving o-f the projecting outside portion 1U.

It is also possible to use fiber pieces instead of metal,Y as material of construction for the elements 51, 58 and 69 of Figure 9.

It has been found that wax will stick to these tough ber inserts as well as it will to the wood of the ski body or structure itself.

The sections of Figures 10, 1l and 12 show the alternative corner pieces 'I I, 12 and 13 respectively. At 1|, the side flanges 12 and 13 are provided with the inturned elements 14 and 15.

In Figure 11, the corner piece extends diagonally and is provided with a dove-tail 16 which fits into the dove-tailed groove 11.

In Figurev 12, the corner piece '|31l consists of a square block of metal having the holding anges 18 and 19.

Figure also shows a central edgeconstruction` 8| having inturned holding flanges 82.

In FigurelB, is shown an alternative corner piece construction 88 having a bottom flange portionY 84 and diagonal flange portions 85 and 'Ihe flanges 85 and 8 6 are designed to extend into the bottom 81 of the ski.

These elements may be'single as indicated in Figure 14 or double with the flanges 85 in contact as indicated in Figure 13.

In Figures and 16, is illustrated an alternative central groove construction 90 in the ski body SI which has a rounded portion 92 having the slots 93 which receive the keying elements 94.

The insert element 95 carrying the keys has projecting edges 96 which enable a grip in hard snow.

The groove 91 is designed to receive a tightening wire 98 similar to that shown at 2l in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the edge construction of similar edge construction of the character of 51 of Figure 9 in which a series of slots |00 and IOI have been alternately cut to give enhanced flexibility.

At the thin forward portion of the ski, the flanges 59, 60 and 63 are omitted, as indicated at H0 and the screws III are provided to enable this portion of the strip to be screwed to the ski.

Slots |00 are preferably cut through the portions 59, 60 and 53 leaving 52 intact or through the portions 60, 52 and 63 leaving 59 intact.

Although the central elements I9, l0, 8| and 95 shown respectively in Figures 6, 9, 10 and 15 may be continuous, they also may be made of a series of interlocking sections such as indicated at H2 in Figure 18 or H3 in Figur-e 19.

As indicated in Figure 18, the wedge is cut away at H4 and the bottom portion is turned up and over, as indicated at H5 to overlie the portions I I6 of the other element.

In the alternative construction of Figure 19, the bottom portion of one element is recessed at I I9 and the tongue section |20 of the next element fits thereinto.

'Ihe individual pieces H2 of Figure 18 and H3 of Figure 19 may be carried in a bag and fitted into position whenit is necessary to use skis on hard snow.

The various metallic side andcentral edging members may be made of sheet metal stock, of tubular conformation or of return bent constructions, and if desired the metallic may be slit longitudinally or laterally or both for ilexibility and such tubing in cross section may be wedge-shaped, trapezoid-shaped, round-shaped,`

and enable better engagement between the base. and the snow when in use, saidl metal edges taking the form of extruded right angle bars, said bars having flanges extending perpendicularly into the side and bottom of said base at right angles to each other.

2. A ski construction comprising a wooden base and metallic edges to reinforce said base and enable better'engagement between the base and the snow when in use, said metal edges taking the form of metal strips of rectangular cross section, said strips having flanges extending perpendicularly into the side and bottom of said base at right angles to each other.

3. A ski construction comprising a wooden base having a central groove in the bottom thereof and means received in said groove to cause arching thereof and a cover plate'for said groove extending beyond the bottom of said base to form a central edging element.

4. A ski construction comprising a wooden base having a central groove in the bottom thereof and means received in said groove to'cause arching thereof, said means being adjustable and a cover plate for said groove extending beyond the bottom of said base to form a central edging element.

5. A ski construction comprising a wooden base having a central groove in the bottom thereof and means received in said groove to cause arching thereof, said means including a metal strip received ina groove in the ski and a cover plate for said groove extending beyond the bottom of said base to form a central edging element.

6. A ski construction comprising a wooden base having afcentral groove in thebottom thereof and means received in said grooveto cause arching thereof, said means including a metal strip fixed at the rear of the ski and provided with a tightening and loosening device at the front of the ski and a cover plate for said groove extending beyond the bottom of said base to form a central edging element.

'7..A ski construction comprising a Wooden base and a metallic edge member therefor, said edge member comprising a unitary strip extending longitudinally a substantial portion of thek base and formed with a plurality of relatively flat walls dening an `angular cross-section, all but one of the Walls being slit transversely at intervals through their lengths to provide increased flexibility of said strip.

8. A ski construction comprising a wooden ski and a metallic edge member therefor, said edge member comprising a unitary strip having angularly disposed walls dening an angular cross-section, certain of said walls being slit transversely for flexibility andat least one wall y extending continuously. i Y

WILLIAM F. SERR. 

